St Matthew the Evangelist

Feast of St Matthew – 16 November

‘As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’
But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’ Matthew 9:9-13
Icon from ‘The Maronite Icons: Modern Sacred Art.
Dar Sader Publishers: Beirut, Lebanon, 1999’ Produced by the Maronite Eparchy of Cyprus.